Fear of the world

The extreme fear of the context in which we live is a widespread reality and problem that affects more and more people. We're not talking about a condition of temporary anxiety that involves everyone and that is triggered by a contingent experience or something we have to do, requiring a special use of energy that we've never done before, putting us on alert. What I mean is a condition of chronic, maladaptive activation, a pathological response that follows every external stimulus, be it a sound or a social interaction. This condition affects many highly sensitive individuals or individuals with neurodivergent traits, who may experience adversity in carrying out even seemingly simple tasks that require minimal energy investment for most.

The issue of sensory processing and the ability to integrate stimuli by organizing information from the simplest to the most complex, from the least to the most important, can be very challenging for individuals with neurodivergent traits, as in the case of autism specifically. In some cases, individuals may experience disorientation or high levels of overload, which can lead them to flee from certain environmental situations, finding solace by retreating into their homes. However, what was once a safe haven soon transforms into a prison, leading to other comorbidities such as agoraphobia, which is not just a fear of empty spaces but also a fear of extremely crowded places. "Fear of the world" depicts a mass of people crowding each other, all divergent, seeking mutual comfort in facing another day in the concrete and iron jungle, another day of challenge and sacrifice. In certain circumstances, even the slightest sound can seem unbearable, contributing to the development of a chronic sensory hallucinatory state, rendering individuals incapable of reacting effectively in terms of efficacy. The two prominent faces appearing to be sleeping symbolize the world of the non-divergent, who, thanks to their greater tolerance, find themselves graceful amidst the chaos and noise of the modern world. The figure in the background, shrouded in uncertainty, appears to be pushing forward, representing divergence itself, the embodiment of being different in anthropomorphic form, menacing those who carry within them the weight of its essence. The setting is a city street dominated by disharmony caused by the multitude of stimuli combined with the recurrence of often incomprehensible and contradictory social conventions, the adaptability to which demands a considerable investment of energy from divergent individuals.

Artwork details:

Size: 4380 x 5846 pixels

Resolution: 4K

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Fragmentation process of self